Flying-machine.



B. CHALFANT.

' FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 27, 1909.

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Patented Apr. 25, 1911.

ZFLAW B. GHALFANT.

. FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 27, 1909.

Patented Apr. 25, 1911.

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FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 27, 1909.

990,424, Patented Apr. 25, 1911.

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. certain new and BRANTLY CHALFANT, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FLYING-MACHINE.

Application filed September 27,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BRANTLY CHALFANT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented useful Improvements in Flying-lvlachines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in flying machines, the object of the invention being to provide an improved structure whichjs patterned after the shape of a bird in flight, and provide improved steering vanes for steering horizontally and vertically, said vanes being independently oper ated by means of levers located conveniently to the operators seat.

A further object is to provide an improved construction of planes or wings, which combine the maximum of strength with the minimum of weight, and which conform in general disposition and outline to the disposition and outline of a birds wings in soaring flight.

lVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, and combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, isa top plan view showing the canvas of the wings and vanes broken away to illus trate the structure below. Fig. 2, is a front view of the device. .Fig. 3, is a view in longitudinal section through the central portion of the device. Fig. 1, is a fragmentary view in cross section, and Fig. 5, is a rear The front end of the central frame supports a transparent shield 6, which is preferably of celluloid or other flexible material, secured upon a suitable frame work 7, and preferably of the sharp or beveled formation illustrated, so as to cut the wind, and afford Specification off Letters Patent.

wings of my connected the frame 15 is braced by Figure 1,

. midway rammed Apr. 25, 1911.

1909. Serial No. 519,796.

but slight resistance to the flight of the machine, yet protect the operator against the high wind to which he would otherwise be subjected.

8, 8, represent planes, which comprise the improved machine, and consist of a series of parallel longitudinal bars 9, at their inner ends by cross bars 10 secured by bolts 11 to the upper longitudinal bars 3, and the front longitudinal bars 9 are secured to metal bands 12 secured acrossthe forward ends of the upper longitudinal bars 3. These bars 9 are not'disposed at a right angle to the longitudinal bars 3, but incline forwardly from their inner to their outer ends, and the outer ends of the front and rear longitudinal bars are connected by bowed metal bands 13, which are braced by cross rods 14, and said metal bands are tipped upwardly at their outer portions, which give to the wings the general outline of a birds wings in flight, it being noted particularly in Fig. 2, that the wings incline upward from their inner to their outer ends. This inclination being given by the shape of the metal band or strap 12, connecting the wings, and the bevel of the inner ends of the longitudinal bars 9.

In the rear portion of the central frame,

This frame 15 supports a vertically disposed steering vane or rudder 17, which latter is secured between its ends upon a vertical shaft 18 mounted in frame 15. This shaft 18 is provided with a crank arm 19, which is connected by a link or rod 20 with a crank arm 32.of a crank shaft 33, on which latter a lever 21 is secured, and said shaft 33 is supported. in'brackets 22 on platform 5. This lever 21 is located toone side of the operators'seat 23.

supported between its ends by a vertical Ii 24, the latter pivoted at its upper end to rod 20, and at its lower end to a bracket 25 on platform 5.

26 represents. a horizontally disposed steering vane or rudder, which is secured its ends on'a shaft 27 mounted in the rear ends of the upper longitudinal bars 3. This shaft 27 is provided with a crank arm 28, which is connected by a link 29 with a lever 30, the latter pivotally secured at its lower end in a bracket 31 on platform 5 as shown.

It will thus be noted that the levers 21 and 30 are disposed at opposite sides of the This rod or link 20 ils' r diagonal braces 16.

operators seat 23, so that with the left hand he may grasp one lever, and with the right hand the other, so as to have the steering vanes or rudders l7 and 26 constantly under absolute and instant control. These vanes 17 and 26 comprise a suitable frame work inclosed within a covering of canvas or other suitable material, and the wings 8 are also covered by canvas or other suitable material.

In operation, the operator seated upon seat 23 grasps lever 30 with his right hand, and lever 21 with his left, and as the wings 8 catch the wind,'he manipulates the vane or rudder 26 to elevate or lower the machine, and the vane or rudder 17 to guide the machine to right and left.

Various slight changes might be made in the general form and arrangement of parts described without departing from my invention, and hence I do not restrict myself to the precise details set forth, but consider myself at liber y to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A propellerless flying machine, comprising a central rectangular frame, and wings secured at their inner ends to the top of said frame, projecting outwardly from the frame, inclining upwardly from their inner to their outer ends, having their front and rear edges parallel and both front and rear edges divergingforwardly from their inner to their outer ends, and the extreme outer ends of said Wings or planes having a sharp upward curve, and means for steering the machine, substantially as described.

2. A propeller-less flying machine, comprising a central rectangular frame, and wings secured at their inner ends to the top of said frame, projectin outward from the frame, inclining upward y from their inner to their outer ends, having their front and rear edges parallel and both front and rear edges diverging forwardly from their inner to their outer ends, and the extreme outer ends of said wings or planes having a sharp upward curve, and a sharp transparent shield at the front of said frame, and means for steering themachine, substantially as described.

3. A propellerless flying machine, comprising a central rectangular frame, and wings secured at their inner ends to the top of said frame, projecting outward from the frame, inclining upwardly from their inner to their outer ends, having their front and rear edges parallel and both front and rear edges diverging forwardly from their inner to their outer ends, and the extreme outer ends of said wings or planes having a sharp upward curve, a sharp transparent shield at the front of said frame, a horizontal steering rudder at the rear end of the frame, a vertical steering rudder at the rear end of the frame, an operators seat on the frame back of the shield, and levers on said frame adjacent the operators seat, and constructed to move said rudders, substantially as de scribed.

In testimony'whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BRANTLY CHALFANT. Witnesses:

ELLEN I. CALLFANJ,

R. H. KRINKEL. 

